Car control



Sep'i. 16 1924.

G. N. SIMPSON {ET AL CAR CONTROL Filed July 14. 1923 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 Se t, 16 1924.

CAR CONTROL Filed Iuly l4 1923 G. N. SIMPSON ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

masses GEORGE N. SIMPSON AND ARTHUR M. SIMPSON, ononroaeo, ILLINOIS.

' can CONTROL.

Application filed. July 14,1923. Serial No. 651,511.

T 0 all whom it may concern "Be it known that we, Gnonsn N. SrMrsoN and ARTHUR M. SIMPSON, United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car Controls, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car control apparatus, and more especially to an apparatus of that sort designed for controlling and regulating the movement of cars on to or off of a car container. For example, the control apparatus may be used in connection with an elevator, or a rotary car dumping cage, to feed the cars on to and off of the car containing device. In connection, for example, with an elevator, the cars frequently are fed to the elevator in a long trip or string, being pushed or pulled in any suitable manner. It is desirable in such cases to provide some means for feeding the cars on to the elevator cage, a predetermined number at a time. Such a car control as is here disclosed is also sometimes known as a spragger, or mechanical spragger. It is obvious also that our car control or spragger may be used in any case where it is desirable to control the movement of cars along a track for any reason; even though they are not to be fed on to any car containing device.

Our device is so constructed that it may be easily and cheaply made and readily installed. It is also simpleto operate and strong and durable. It is also so constructed that it is sure and accurate in operation. Other features and advantages of our invention will appear more fully as we proceed with our specification.

In that form of device embodying the features of our invention shown in the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing one wheel of a car.

As shown in the drawings, 10, 10 indicate the rails upon which cars, such as, for example, mine cars, are adapted to run. The car control comprises a transverse shaft 11 rotatably mounted just below the rails 10. The shaft 11 carries at each end a star wheel 12, having four radial arms or points 12 of sufficient length to project above the surface of the rails 10. The two star wheels 12 are citizens of the aranged in recesses formed on-the sides of the rails'lO so that the points or arms 12 will be engaged by the wheels 13 of a car passing on the track. It is obvious that by this construction, one of the arms 12 projecting above the rail 10 will be engaged by one of the wheels 13 of a' passing car and thus stop the car. If, however, the shaft 11 is permitted to rotate, the wheel willpush the arm around until the wheel may pass; at the same. time raising another arm behind it to be engaged by the next succeeding wheel. It is obvious, therefore, that if means are provided for retarding or controlling the rotating of the shaft 11, over the star wheels may be stopped, controlled, retarded, or regulated as desired. It may be noted'here that if there is considerable forward pressure of a car, there may be a tendency for the wheel 13 to be raised from the track 10 and ride over one of the arms 12, especially so if the arm 12 in engagement with the wheel has been moved forward to some extent so that the back edge thereof presents an inclined surface up which the wheel may mount. In order to prevent this, we have provided above each of the rails 10 an angle iron 15, presenting a horizontal shelf over each rail. These angle irons 15 are arranged above the rails 10 at a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the wheels 13. It is obvious, therefore, that any raising of the Wheels 13 from the rails 10 is prevented. According ly, if one of the wheels 18 commences to ride up on one of the arms 12 its upper surface almost immediately engages the angle iron 15, thus preventing further upward movement. It is to be noted also that because of the rotation of the wheel 18, there is considerable frictional engagement between the wheel and the angle iron 15 as soon as contact occurs. This frictional engagement serves very well to assist in retarding further progress of the wheel.

The following means are provided for controlling the rotation of the shaft 11. The shaft 11 carries a brake drum 20, adapted to be engaged by a brake band 21, which in turn is operated by means of a suitable lever 22, adapted to work through the shaft 23 and connecting arm 24:. arm 22, therefore, the brake band 21 may be tightened, to control rotation of the shaft 11 and consequent rotation of the star wheels 12 as desired.

of the star wheel,

By operating the the passage of cars While We have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is our intention to claim all novelty inherent in our invention as broadly as possible in vieW of the prior art.

iVhat We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the character described, comprising a rotatable member arrangedin proximity to a car track and having arms adapted for successive engagement by parts on. cars passing on said track, means for substantially preventing raising of a car part upon engagement with one of the arms of said rotatable member, and means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable member.

2. A. device of the character described, comprising a rotatable member arranged in proximity to a car track and having arms adapted for successive engagement by the Wheels of cars passing on said track, means for substantially preventing raising of a car Wheel upon engagement With one of the arms of said rotatable member, and means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable member.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a rotatable member arranged in proximity to a car track and having arms adapted for successive engagement by the Wheels of cars passing on said track, means for substantially preventing raising of a car Wheel upon engagement with one of the arms of said rotatable member, said means comprising a shelf arranged above the track and adapted to be engaged by the upper surface of a car Wheel upon the raising of the same from the track, and means for controlling the rotation of said rotatable member.

Witness our hands and seals this 20 day of June, 1923.

GEORGE N. SIMPSON. [L.s.] ARTHUR M. SIMPSON. [L. s] 

